Baby Loves Disco is back

The emceed kids' dance party returns with three events to Miami

April 24, 2013|By Jennifer Jhon

Break out the polyester and the platform shoes — Baby Loves Disco is back.

The kid-centric dance party that first appeared in South Florida several years ago and then dropped from the scene is throwing down with a three-month run at LMNT Arts, an event venue in midtown Miami.The parties mark a new beginning for Baby Loves Disco, which was in almost 40 cities just three years ago, said co-founder Adam Blackman Hurwitz. It was a lot of stress and not a lot of money, he said.

“We decided to pick our top six favorite cities in country and rebuild from scratch,” he said. In rebuilding, “We wanted to make it as cool as it could be and as glamorous as it could be.”Enter Miami.

Getting established in Miami was just a question of finding the right people, Hurwitz said, namely Miami host moms Anna “Bananna” Robbins and Monie Love, who will also emcee the parties.

“Anna represents whole bunch of amazing DJs,” Hurwitz said. Monie Love is “formerly a super-world-famous rapper from the ’90s, one of the top five female emcees of all time.”Originally from England, Love was a protégé of Queen Latifah. Now she lives in midtown Miami.

Robbins and Love, both mothers, became friends while working together on nighttime events. So when Robbins found Baby Loves Disco, she discussed it with Love.

“We were both excited,” Love said. “Anna happened to represent a really cool place. … When I looked at it, I was like, ‘Wow, this would be perfect for Baby Loves Disco.’” LMNT Arts is unusual because of its indoor and outdoor space.

“Everyone loved it,” Love said.

Robbins discovered Baby Loves Disco through her friend King Britt, a legendary DJ from Philadelphia who produced the Baby Loves Disco album for Hurwitz.

“I got the album, and it was amazing, and I went online and realized it was a whole movement,” said Robbins, who has a 7-year-old daughter.

She reached out to Hurwitz about hosting Baby Loves Disco in Miami.

“It’s a great way to bring everything together — my daughter, my love for music,” she said.

“I see this being the future — having a place where kids can go and listen to real music. It’s not as juvenile as most kids’ events are.”

Baby Loves Disco will have two DJs playing a mix of current hits and classic disco. The DJs are industry veterans, Robbins said, and she is working with one of them to create some of the music — “Can you put The Little Mermaid with this beat?” she said. The DJs up the cool factor of Baby Loves Disco, Love said.

“It has a nighttime-like vibe but totally kid-ified,” she said. “Instead of bottle service, you get juice box service.”

A complimentary kids’ snack table is stocked with Honest Kids juices, crackers and fruit, and Robbins is planning an in-house organic menu with raw foods and juices, and possibly a barbecue.There will also be a bounce house, arts and crafts, face painting and a chill-out area with a storyteller, Robbins said. For the parents, “There will be a limited bar menu so mom can get a glass of wine or champagne while kids are doing their thing.”Baby Loves isn’t just about disco. Baby Loves Salsa may be in Miami’s future.

“The sky’s the limit with the Baby Loves series,” Robbins said. “We want to turn this into a monthly — if not a weekly — event rotating between all of these genres.”She also wants to get national DJs involved.

“So far, the response has been great,” Robbins said. “They all want to do it.”

Baby Loves Disco is worth the excitement, Love said.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come out and enjoy a full-rounded afternoon of music and crafts and nonstop healthy snacks all afternoon and dance away.”

IF YOU GOWHAT: Baby Loves DiscoWHEN: 1-4 p.m. April 27, May 18 and June 8WHERE: LMNT Arts, 59 NW 36th St., Miami INFORMATON: 305-989-6963, www.babylovesdisco.com; DJ Peanut Butter Jelly Time (aka Rude Boy Sven) and DJ OHSO will spin a mix of current hits and classic disco tracks.COST: $15 for each walking human, at babylovesdisco.com/events or at the door